The five bonds on the November ballot -- which would authorize spending $42.6 billion on roads, schools, levees, land conservation and housing -- are all favored by at least 50 percent of the voters but could lose favor with voters as the election nears, according to a new Field Poll.

Four of the bonds were placed on the ballot by lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The fifth bond, Proposition 84, which would spend $5.4 billion on water projects and habitat preservation, is also backed by the GOP governor.

"The bonds are doing OK. I think it has a lot to do with Schwarzenegger's ability to work with the Legislature and represent this as a forward-looking investment in California," said Mark DiCamillo, director of the Field Poll.

But DiCamillo cautioned that the measures are all barely over 50 percent and that unlike other propositions, voters who are undecided on bonds tend to vote against them.

"It's going to be a close election for all of them. It's much easier to vote 'no' on a tax measure or a bond measure if you haven't been persuaded," DiCamillo said.

Propositions 1B, 1C, 1D and 1E are being sold to voters as a package designed to improve California's public works, which are lagging behind the state's rapid growth.

Of the four, Proposition 1C, a $2.85 billion housing bond, fares the best with 58 percent of likely voters in favor of it and 28 percent against.

The bond measure benefits from a ballot summary that says the money will provide shelters to help battered women, their children and low-income senior citizens, and gives homeownership assistance to the disabled, military veterans and working families.

"Victims of domestic violence and their kids? Low-income seniors? It's hard to be against that ballot label," DiCamillo said.

At 50 percent "yes" and 30 percent "no," Prop. 84 is supported by the least number of voters.

Placed on the ballot by signature gathering, it would spend $5.4 billion on projects to improve water quality, protect habitat, improve state parks and encourage areas of the state to be less dependent on imported water.

Proposition 1B, the largest of the bonds at nearly $20 billion, would pay for a variety of transit and highway improvements aimed at reducing congestion. It is backed by 52 percent of likely voters and opposed by 36 percent.

Proposition 1D, which would spend $10.4 billion on improvements to public schools, community colleges and universities is supported by 52 percent of likely voters and opposed by 33 percent.

Proposition 1E, a $4.1 billion bond of which $3 billion would be used to shore up the state's crumbling levee systems, is opposed by 36 percent of likely voters and backed by 51 percent.

The Field Poll was conducted Sept. 14 through 24 among 739 registered voters, of whom 557 are considered likely to vote in November.

Results from a sampling of likely voters have an error rate of plus or minus six percentage points.